HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Philippine Department of Tourism London Team extends its warmest greetings to all during this holiday season with grateful hearts for the support you have extended in 2017 and hope for even stronger partnerships in 2018!

APPRECIATION EVENT FOR TRAVEL TRADE & MEDIA IN LONDON

It was indeed a”night to remember” as the PDOT London Team staged its year-end appreciation night for their partners in the travel trade and media. The event was held at the Loop Bar and was attended by almost 200 guests from the industry who had a taste of a Philippine-style groovy night with singing, dancing, Filipino food, beer and rum cocktails using the world-class Don Papa Rum.

The night was capped by a holiday raffle which included international and domestic tickets from Philippine Airlines and hotel accommodation at Sheridan Hotel in Palawan, Plantation Bay in Cebu and Savoy Boracay.

The photo above shows the lucky winner Thea Wall Coomber from Jules Verne (3rd from left) together with the Philippine Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador Gilbert Asuque (2nd from left) and the PDOT London Team led by Tourism Attache Gerard O. Panga (2nd from right).

2017: THE YEAR WHEN THE WORLD LAID ITS EYES ON THE PHILIPPINES!

With the Miss Universe 2016 pageant on the first month of the year, 2017 has been a very fruitful one for the Department of Tourism (DOT). After almost 23 years since the last time (May 1994) the Miss Universe pageant took place in the Philippines, the prestigious event was held once again (January 2017) in the country with its very own Pia Wurtzbach passing on the Miss Universe crown to Iris Mittenaere of France. “Our islands, food, and the biggest smiles of our people are all over the news and social media these past few weeks. The world now knows how beautiful our islands are, how delectable our cuisines are, and how friendly and warm Filipinos are – just ask the Miss Universe candidates themselves,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo said after the pageant.

TOURISM PROMOTERS – Miss Universe 2017 Demi Leigh Nel-Peters (second from right) and Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere (center) pose for a picture with other 2017 Miss Universe candidates at Fort Santiago in Manila. The group of pageant beauties is visiting the Philippines to promote the country as a tourism destination. (Ali Vicoy | Manila Bulletin)

After over 10 months, such event resulted in more tourist arrivals in the Philippines.

Over 5-M tourists

A total of 5,474,310 international tourists visited the Philippines within the first 10 months of 2017, the latest data from the DOT showed. It noted a marginal increase of 11.54 percent compared with what was recorded in the same period last year, which was 4,908,017.

Aside from the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines, there were other factors that helped the tourism industry in terms of arrivals.

“Hindi lang naman Miss Universe. I’ve been going out of the country. Nag-ikot ako. I talked to the tours operators. Ini-invite namin silang pumunta sa Pilipinas para i-promote nila sa kanilang country (It’s not only the Miss Universe. I’ve been going out of the country. I went from one country to another. I talked to the tours operators. We invited them to come to the Philippines so they could promote it to their countries),” Teo noted.

Chinese and Indian tourists

Also a factor of the increased arrivals is the growing number of Chinese and Indian tourists. Teo said the country is getting close to the one-million target for Chinese tourists.

“With the surge in Chinese and Indian arrivals, we are optimistic to hit the target of at least 6.5 million as set by the National Tourism Development Plan for 2017-2022,” she said.

Bring Home a Friend

To gain more tourists, the DOT has also revived the “Invite Home a Friend” program which was launched in 1994 by then-tourism chief Mina Gabor. Called “Bring Home a Friend” under Teo’s leadership, the program is open to the public from October 15, 2017 to April 15, 2018.

The BHAF is a referral incentive program wherein Filipinos or Philippine expats who invite foreigners to visit the country will have a chance to win a prize. Three sponsors and invitees will be selected on the grand draw.

Farm tourism

The farm tourism spots in the country are also being showcased now after the launch of the “It’s More Fun in Philippine Farms” program.
Teo said a series of activities would be held throughout the country including consultative assemblies of farm tourism stakeholders; and exhibits on diverse farm tourism destinations, farm produce, and “pasalubong” specialty items.

“It’s about time that we take steps to put farm tourism at center-stage, as the country teems with rich agricultural destinations as nurtured by our hardworking farmers, who we now recognize as major stakeholders in an inclusive and sustainable tourism industry,” the DOT chief stated.

Int’l recognition

A number of tourism destinations in the Philippines have also gained international recognition. Some of which were the Isla de Sta. Cruz, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, and Baguio City. Isla de Sta. Cruz was included in the National Geographic’s “21 Best Beaches in the World.”

“We are so proud about this citation and happy about its very timely announcement which comes right after our visit in December when I had pushed for the island’s immediate improvement and development as an ecotourism destination,” Teo said.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park ranked 30th on the Cable News Network (CNN) Travel’s “50 Works of Art” list.

“Nominated as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River runs for 8.2 kilometers underground and boasts limestone karst formations, stalactites and stalagmites,” said CNN Travel editor Bija Knowles in her list.

Meanwhile, Baguio was included in the “UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Creative Cities,” under the field of Craft and Folk Arts.

“This is a fitting tribute to Baguio as a community that teems with so much talent, particularly in the area of crafts and folk arts,” Teo said.

HOTEL OKURA MANILA TO OPEN IN 2018

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. announced today that it has entered an agreement with Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. (TIHGI) to manage Hotel Okura Manila, which will open in Manila, Philippines in 2018.

Located near Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the 191-room Hotel Okura Manila will be conveniently situated within Resorts World Manila, an integrated resort owned by TIHGI. As a gateway to Makati City, the country’s financial district, the hotel will offer easy access to Manila’s business and leisure centres.

Hotel Okura Manila will be a state-of-the-art resort destination distinguished by its sophisticated Okura-style hospitality. It will offer numerous dining options, including traditional Japanese and Spanish restaurants, all-day dining, and a bar. Guests will enjoy the comforts of spacious rooms averaging 60 square meters, as well as a pool and fitness facility.

“As Hotel Okura’s first hotel to open in the Philippines, we will leverage the group’s expertise in traditional Japanese hospitality to make Hotel Okura Manila a much-beloved hotel among both local and foreign visitors,” said Toshihiro Ogita, president of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. “For the past five years, the Philippines has experienced high economic growth surpassing 6% per annum, and its tourism market is expected to achieve mid- to long-term growth.”

The country’s population of well over 100 million is now the second largest in the ASEAN region following Indonesia, and averages a youthful 24 years of age. The Philippine Department of Tourism is working to attract over 12 million foreign tourists by 2022, including through major investments in infrastructure.

Hotel Okura Manila will be Hotel Okura’s second Manila property to be announced. “Hotel Okura has worked closely with TIHGI, which has been a supportive and reliable partner,” Ogita commented. Hotel Okura is pursuing an ambitious plan to expand its global portfolio to 100 properties, primarily in the fast-growing Asian region.

Eleven properties are in the pipeline, all due to open by 2020 under one of three hotel groups: Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International, or Hotel JAL City. These properties will be managed by Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura.

Hotel Okura aims to strengthen the bond with the promising markets including the Philippines. To remark its commitment, Hotel Okura has made a donation of 100,000 USD to the Philippine Red Cross for natural disaster recovery in 2013.

RETIREMENT HAVEN: PHILIPPINES TARGETS 80,000 RETIREES BY 2020

CLARK FREEPORT — The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) plans to increase the number of foreign retirees in the country to 80,000 by 2020 through various incentives, according to the agency’s top official.

As of November, foreign retirees numbered 53,355, Bienvenido Chy, PRA general manager, said after he inducted officers of the newly formed Philippine Investors and Retirement Industry Council (Piric) here on Thursday.

Most of the retirees are from China, Korea, Taiwan, India, Japan, United States and Australia.

“They prefer the Philippines as a retirement place,” Chy said. “Our advantages are our beautiful climate, we have the best golf courses and beaches, our people are naturally friendly and it is economical to live here,” Chy said.

PRA offers foreign retirees and Filipino retirees, who have acquired foreign citizenship, a special resident retiree’s visa that gives them non-immigrant status and grants them multiple-entry and indefinite stay.

Exemptions

Chy said that PRA would exempt them from paying travel taxes and allow them and their children to study in the Philippines.
He said retirees were not required to go to the Bureau of Immigration to acquire a visa. They were also linked to business partners should they wanted to invest here.

Retirees are encouraged to start or expand businesses given that the economy has enjoyed a 6.9 percent growth rate, Chy said.
He said that Clark Freeport and New Clark City had been generating more interest because the Duterte administration was building an international terminal and a railway here.

A recent survey undertaken by Expat Explorer in more than 100 countries showed that “52 percent or more than half of expatriates in the country found better personal fulfilment working in the Philippines than in their home countries,” Chy said in a speech at the Piric forum.

As an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, PRA drew a net income of P453.2 million in 2016, remitting P210.44 million of that amount to the national government.

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay sets new hospitality standards on the tropical island with a raft of stand-out leisure, entertainment and dining features

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is setting new hospitality standards in Boracay, the Philippines, with the launch of a new resort located on one of the tropical island’s most beautiful unspoiled beaches.

Overlooking the serene turquoise ocean at Punta Bunga Cove on the exclusive northwest coast, the 312-key Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay is a unique low-rise property with architecture designed to blend with the natural environment and a secluded 200-metre private beach.

The five-star beachfront property also offers a wide range of world-class facilities and attractions that appeal to guests of all ages, from the island’s biggest multi-level swimming pool spanning some 3,300 square metres to the Sol Marina Beach Club, which plays host to international DJs and dance acts.

Conveniently located just 30 minutes from Caticlan Airport, the luxury resort features 312 contemporary rooms and suites, most with sea views, while the seven bars and restaurants serve a wide range of high-quality cuisine for which Mövenpick is renowned, with speciality options including Italian, Japanese and Korean.

Families are also well catered to with connecting rooms and suite options available, a generous children’s pool, and the Little Birds Kids’ Club, which as part of the recently launched Mövenpick Family Programme, offers a choice of fun and engaging activities for young guests, with a focus on cultural and environmental awareness and immersion. The programme’s signature Power Bites menu is available too, featuring a wide range of creative and healthy child-friendly dishes.

Resort facilities also include a spa and fitness centre and indoor and outdoor meeting and event venues designed to suit all occasions, from board meetings and group workshops to romantic weddings amid landscaped gardens or swaying beach palms.

“Boracay is fast emerging as one of Asia’s leading beach destinations and the time is right for Mövenpick to cement its presence in this strategically important location.”
Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay is Mövenpick’s second property in the Philippines where it already operates the 245-key Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu. The Swiss hospitality firm is actively seeking opportunities to grow its portfolio across the island nation.

The new Boracay resort is set to quickly establish itself as a first-class dining destination, offering pan-Asian and international flavours at The Market, the resort’s all-day dining restaurant with regularly themed evening buffets; authentic Italian fare, including Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas, at Brezza; and top-quality Korean barbecue dishes and Japanese sushi at Ssäm.

Other options include The Café, serving fresh pastries and cakes, including local merienda favourites, and the venue for Mövenpick’s daily afternoon Chocolate Hour; the pool bar offering refreshing cocktails and light snacks; the Fun Pub, which is ideal for sports and Karaoke fans; and the aforementioned Sol Marina Beach Club, a stylish Ibiza-inspired beachfront venue where guests can chill out with DJ beats as a backdrop. This hip casual beach club hosts regular parties and live performances.

“Our resort is a foodie and fun-seeker haven in a top-class global beach destination,” said General Manager, Albert Ocasio. “Its outstanding range of facilities also cater to all guest types, from families with children of all ages to couples looking for a romantic or wellness getaway and groups seeking an inspirational beachside venue. Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay is nothing short of a private paradise for visitors of all ages.”

DIVING FOCUS: ANILAO UNDERWATER SHOOTOUT!

The 5th Anilao Underwater Shootout in the Philippines was recently concluded and it was led by a roster of International Judges namely David Doubilet, one of the most celebrated underwater photographers in the world. He is also a regular contributor to National Geographic Magazine.

Jennifer Hayes (from the United States) is a known aquatic biologist and photojournalist specializing in natural history and marine environments. Of course, the Philippine is represented by Scott “Gutsy” Tuason, an award-winning photographer and co-author of the book “Anilao in 2000”.

Tobias Friedrich from Germany has had his underwater images published in magazines like US Sport Diver, Unterwasser, Tauchen and many more. Singapore’s pride, William Tan, is a renowned underwater photographer and also a violinist in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Last but not least, Yoshi Hirata from Japan is based is a Cebu based marine biologist and accomplished underwater photographer.

All the top notch judges had a difficult time choosing this year’s Anilao Underwater Shootout but eventually came up with the decision on the best-captured image. Below are some of the winners:

Cem Gazivekili from Turkey won 1st place in the nudibranch category, open class.

The Anilao Underwater Shootout is a yearly competition organized and sponsored by the Philippine Department of Tourism in cooperation with resort owners, dive operators, dive masters, and local Mabini stakeholders. The competition puts emphasis on macro underwater photography. Participants may stay and dive with any resort/operator of their choosing in the Mabini, Batangas area.

For more information and event photos, click this link (https://www.facebook.com/anilaounderwatershootout/)

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